Booby Tube Trapper is Exonerated

This past March 8, Riptide reported on Miami Police Commander William Alvarez arresting a homeless man for loitering and prowling (“The Booby Tube Trap”). Alvarez apprehended Steven McLLain, who was walking across the Venetian Causeway with a discarded television. According to a police officer who requested anonymity, Alvarez allegedly lied...

By Frank Houston

May 14, 2007

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This past March 8, Riptide reported on Miami Police Commander William Alvarez arresting a homeless man for loitering and prowling (“The Booby Tube Trap”). Alvarez apprehended Steven McLLain, who was walking across the Venetian Causeway with a discarded television.

According to a police officer who requested anonymity, Alvarez allegedly lied on McLLain’s arrest affidavit that the 56-year-old vagrant took the boob tube from “a house under construction on the island.”

Venetian Drive resident Liselotte Leaton said she informed the commander that she’d given McLLain the TV set. Alvarez never mentioned her in the affidavit. One week after Riptide published the story, we were contacted by Sgt. Jose Rodriguez of internal affairs, who was seeking a statement in his investigation of Alvarez. We respectfully declined.

Last month, Rodriguez cleared Alvarez of any wrongdoing. Alvarez and Rodriguez did not return phone calls seeking comment. --Francisco Alvarado

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